As the keynote speaker at the Missouri Farmers Union Convention Banquet in Moberly, Nixon spoke about fulfilling the individual hopes of Missouri farmers.

"People don't move to rural Missouri to get another boss.  They move out here and they own their own property and they work their own farms so that they can be in charge," Nixon said.

Nixon spoke to the union farmers about his agricultural policies.  His agricultural platform includes proposals to expand Internet access and computer assistance statewide, extend health care to independent farmers, and create a brand on Missouri products by exporting more crops.  Additionally, Nixon supports a voluntary animal identification system, as opposed to a mandatory program.

The Missouri Farmers Union is a non-partisan organization, but many at the event said that Nixon's platform went over well with union members.

"What really stood out to me was when he mentioned health care," one Hannibal farmer said.  "That's really important to me as a family farmer.  He's the top choice for me right now."

Russ Kremer, president of the Missouri Farmers Union, said while agriculture is increasingly run by corporations, individual farmers need the attention of policymakers as well.

"We need a policy that enables those who make a living and provide a quality of life for their families," Kremer said. 

Currently, Nixon is the only Democrat to have formally announced his candidacy for governor.

"The fundamental issues of this race remain the same regardless of who the opponent is," Nixon said.